#the scarlet alchemist

[ninasbookshelf]

The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker - Fairyloot Edition

#the scarlet alchemist #kylie lee baker #ya fantasy #Fairyloot #booklr #books and literature #bibliophile #gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous

[luminouslumity]

#kuri huang #books #bookblr #daughter of the moon goddess #heart of the sun warrior #the girl who fell beneath the sea #strike the zither #sound the gong #the god and the gumiho #the last dragon of the east #legend of the white snake #the west passage #the city inside #the scarlet alchemist #in the watchful city #girls of paper and fire #girls of storm and shadow #girls of fire and fury #graceling #fire #winterkeep #bitterblue #seasparrow

[damzelsart]

"From now on, you will be known as the Scarlet Alchemist."

#digital doodle #digital sketch #artists of tumblr #damzelsart #doodles #digital art #fan art #the scarlet alchemist #book fanart #kylie lee baker #booklr #book tumblr #book characters #character art #character illustration

[wuekka]

If I would get a nickel every time I heard a story about half-scottish asian woman planning her life to spite her disappeared dad, I would have two coins, which isn't a lot but wierd it's happened twice.

...I started reading The Scarlet Alchemist, it has a good start.

#the scarlet alchemist #blue eye samurai #random ramble

[wondereads]

Personal Review

The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker

Summary

All her life, Zilan and her two cousins have been preparing for the exams that would grant them government positions. Zilan, who strives to become a royal alchemist, uses her abilities to raise the dead to fund their studies. She hates the rich clients she works for, who fear death so much they eat gold infused with the power of immortality to stop their aging. However, when comparing making gold for the rich to a life of powerlessness, she will put aside her morals for her future.

Plot 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

The plot of this book is one of the best I've read in YA fantasy. While it starts with an exam and starts becoming more focused on rebellion, a not unheard of story in this genre, the way it is executed is simply amazing. The magic system and world, which really feels like historical China, pull you in, and there were so many good plot twists. While there might be some you're able to predict, there were plenty that completely knocked me off my feet. Then the material is a lot more mature and gory than one would expect from YA; it's visceral, and the consequences feel real.

The magic system of this book was perfect for this kind of story. There are rules and limitations introduced from the beginning that play a huge role in allowing those amazing plot twists to be executed. Also, I just find the inner workings of alchemy incredibly intriguing. The worldbuilding concerning the social situation of China during this alternate period also works really well for the plot. The decision to have the elixir of immortality imbued in gold was a great choice to both emphasize its wasteful, greedy nature and to exacerbate the wealth gap in a way that feels eerily similar to modern times.

Characters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Zilan is an amazing main character. It's quite common for YA books to have these hyper competent characters that are the best in their field. It's fun, but it can feel unrealistic and as if they don't really face many challenges. Zilan is incredibly skilled, and she can do things no one else can, but she has a lot to learn. Her time in the palace definitely shows that, and there are a lot of moments where she is too impulsive or simply doesn't know how to go about something. Her competency feels real with plenty of scenes exemplifying how hard she's worked, but she also learns throughout the book.

Zilan's relationship with her cousins, Yufei and Wenshu, so close they're more like siblings, was particularly interesting. One thing I really liked about this book was that although there is a romance subplot, most of the interpersonal conflict came from Zilan and her family. Their relationship is incredibly complex; they're obviously very close, but there are so many odd circumstances surrounding their lives that it can be hard to tell where they stand with each other, which is used for some very compelling conflict.

The aforementioned romance was pretty good in my opinion. I'd like to see it developed more, but I get the feeling that the kind of incomplete vibe I get from Zilan and Hong is on purpose. They're both at very vulnerable points in their lives, and they find comfort in each other, but they both have a lot of issues, and I really want to see how their relationship works in the second book. Finally, one of my favorite characters was the villain, Empress We Zetian. She is unapologetically evil, and she's truly terrifying. She didn't feel one-dimensional, but she was also totally irredeemable and a villain that really felt like a threat. She outsmarts Zilan on multiple occasions, and she really brought the more dark tone of the story into the spotlight.

Writing Style 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

The writing of this book was incredibly intense. It seems to prioritize modern readability over exactly matching the historical setting, but it rarely took me out of the story. This book honestly feels closer to NA than YA because of how dark and gory it was. As I mentioned previously, consequences in this book are horrifying and constant, taking a much more extreme turn than most YA books. There were moments where this book felt like it was verging on horror. For example, there is a scene where the empress and prince are eating gold in which they, while unchanged physically, become these voracious monsters, and it sent shivers down my spine.

I would say my one critique of this book would be that there are certain things that feel a little rushed. Trying not to spoil too much, that would be Zilan and Hong's situation, which sort of felt like it came out of nowhere, and when Zilan starts to take a more rebellious stand against the empress. However, it didn't detract from the enjoyability that much.

Overall 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

This book was absolutely stunning. The characters were amazing, the plot constantly took me by surprise, and the writing is a great blend of readable modern language and the intense style that usually accompanies fantasy. Zilan is an amazing main character; she’s competent without being perfect, she’s ruthless and driven without being completely heartless. Her cousins, Yufei and Wenshu, are particularly interesting, especially concerning their relationship with Zilan and how complicated it is. The love interest is a good balance to Zilan, though I hope to see their relationship develop more. Empress Zetian is a chilling and horrifying villain who is truly a terrifying opponent. The plot was constantly twisting and turning, keeping me on my toes, and while I found some moments a little too fast paced and would consider this more NA than YA, the overall quality of the story definitely makes me want to keep this at a full 10/10.

About the Author

Kylie Lee Baker: Japanese-Chinese-Irish-American, plays the cello, also wrote The Keeper of Night

About the Reviewer

My name is Wonderose, and I post a reading update every week with the occasional review and themed recommendation. I take suggestions, and you can check out my pinned post for more about me :)

#books #review #the scarlet alchemist #kylie lee baker #fantasy #ya #historical fiction #alchemy #alternate history #chinese history #we zetian #rebellion #tang dynasty #immortality #wealth inequality #fake relationship

[eggcatsreads]

The way that none of the reviews I can find mention that this was obviously influenced by Fullmetal Alchemist, with only the authors Instagram itself confirming it is insane to me.

Did no one else watch FMA??? HELLO???

Although I'm about 55% through so far and I'm loving it!

To be clear, the FMA influence enhances this book - its not like a 1-1 copy it's very much a FMA inspired Chinese story on alchemy. There's just a Lot of similarities that I can really easily see because I've watched FMA multiple times, so it's wild to me to not see anyone comparing them.

I haven't finished this yet but I do recommend it.

#books #book recommendations #booklr #advanced reader copy #arc review #the scarlet Alchemist #kylie lee baker #fullmetal alchemist #bookblr

[sweettoothnerd]

You cannot create good without also creating evil.

#life #love #literature #novel #fiction #people #truth #the scarlet alchemist #kylie lee baker #Chinese #tang dynasty #good #evil #alchemy #scarlet #create

[bookcoversonly]

Title: The Scarlet Alchemist | Author: Kylie Lee Baker | Publisher: Inkyard Press (2023)

#books #The Scarlet Alchemist #Kylie Lee Baker

[someonelookingpraediti]

FairyLoot Unboxing

Alchemy of Us November 2023

More and more, FairyLoot just isn't living up to my expectations. When I first subscribed, FairyLoot was my favourite box, but now I prefer the others. Part of it might be that I'm just not that into YA Fantasy anymore. I don't know.

The featured book is "The Scarlet Alchemist" by Kylie Lee Baker. I'm not interested in this book - I'm over the magical royalty thing, it's such a common trope, and I've read some really bad ones lately. This edition has a completely redesigned cover, which is much nicer than the original. It's got really impressive stencilled edges, and full artwork endpapers. The foiling on the hardcase is nice, but it's pretty basic, and only on the front.

The first item is hanging storage pockets. This is inspired by the featured book of the month. I already have one of these from a previous box, which I dutifully hung on the back of my bathroom door. And I have never once used it. So I won't use this one either. It's an alright design, and I really like that it matches the rest of the box, but it's probably not a colour I'd choose to decorate in.

The next item is a desk calendar. This is a cool design - it has twelve foiled cards - one for each month - with a wooden stand. Unfortunately, it's based on characters by Sarah J. Maas. I've only read one of her books, and I hated it. So again, I won't use this.

Next is an ID holder with a lanyard. It's inspired by "Vampire Academy", which I haven't read, and probably won't. I already have one of these from a previous box (a lot of repeats this month) which was a nicer design - but I don't have anything to use this for, I'm not in college, and my work doesn't have ID cards or anything.

The last item is the next in the secret book collection. I do really love these, they're hollow books designed for storage. I've got a few of these, and they're really nice. This one is designed to look like an Alchemy textbook.

This month's tarot cards are Juliette and Roma from "These Violent Delights".

#fairyloot #unboxing #the scarlet alchemist #kylie lee baker #the alchemy of us

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb: New from the author of The Keeper of Night comes a YA fantasy duology set in an alternate Tang Dynasty China, where a poor biracial girl with the ability to raise the dead gets caught up in the dangerous political games of the royal family.

Zilan dreams of becoming a royal alchemist, of providing for her family by making alchemical gold and gems for the wealthy to eat in order to stay young forever. But for now, she’s trapped in her impoverished village in southern China, practicing an illegal form of alchemy to keep food on the table—resurrecting the dead, for a price.

When Zilan finally has the chance to complete her imperial exams, she ventures to the capital to compete against the best alchemists in the country in tasks she’ll be lucky to survive, let alone pass. On top of that, her reputation for raising the dead has followed her to the capital, and the Crown Prince himself seeks out her help, suspecting a coming assassination attempt.

The more Zilan succeeds in her alchemy, the more she gets caught in the dangerous political games of the royal family. There are monsters lurking within the palace walls, and it’s only a matter of time before they—and secrets of Zilan’s past—catch up with her.

Review:

Raising the dead, alchemy, court politics, and monsters come together in this story about a poor biracial girl with the ability to raise the dead who gets caught in the dangerous political games of the royal family. Zilan has dreamed of becoming a royal alchemist, it would let her practice her alchemy freely and would provide for her family. She has a secret, she's been illegally practicing soul alchemy, reviving the dead. After her mother died and her father disappeared, she vowed to do whatever it took to provide for her remaining family. That means she has to pass the royal alchemist exam, but that means competing against the best alchemists in the country in tasks that she'll be lucky to survive. It doesn't help that she has garnered a reputation for raising the dead and the Crown Prince himself ha come to her seeking her help as he believes he'll be assassinated soon. The more she succeeds in her alchemy the more she gets caught in the dangerous political gams of the royal family... and the more she is starting to realize that there is a price for alchemy that might destroy her. This book was a wild bloody ride, filled with tensions, action, and alchemy! I found myself completely enraptured by the story and Zilan's adventure as she navigates the deadly court. She is a survivor and the decisions she had to make were so tough. There is no learning curve, it's a life or death situation, and it was such a brutal but amazing read. This is the first book in the duology and I cannot wait to see where the second book goes and how Zilan's story ends. Seriously, the twist and turns of this book were fantastic and I would highly recommend it for anyone looking for deadly court politics, competition, monster fighting, and high stakes books (with a touch of romance)!!!

*Spoiler: Zilan finds out that after raising her cousins from the dead, they've been draining her of her qi for sometime and in 4 years anyone near them would be drained as the undead drain the qi of those who love them. She also discovers that her father never left her but had sacrificed his life looking for a cure for her dying mother, as it turns out Zilan herself has a soul tag and was raised from the dead when she was a child as the empress's horse brigade had run her over and the Moon Alchemist had revived her. Zilan wins the royal alchemist competition but discovers that the Empress (who has been prolonging her life through gold as in this universe those who eat gold dont age and can maintain their youth) has been experimenting on humans and has been killing off the royal line to make her the only person to rule. Zilan is called the Scarlet Alchemist because she used tons of blood during her winning trial. She discovers that the Empress uses the blood she collects on people to send her monstrous creations to kill them. The other alchemists that have been trapped in the castle want to kill the empress and Zilan joins their efforts. The emperor is dead from arsenic poisonining and the empress has been hiding it and she killed the crown princes's two younger sisters but Zilan brought them back. Zilan and the Crown Prince bond as she discovers whats truly happening and he made her his concubine but offered her real marriage (he was later killed by the Empress, as was her cousins, but she brings her cousins back , Yufei in the body of the empress and Wenshen in the body of the Crown prince). At the end of the book she discovers that there is a elixir of immortality and she decides that she is going to find it and bring all the dead alchemist who had been killed by the empress back as well as the Crown Prince (despite her brother inhabiting the man she love's body).

*Thanks Netgalley and Inkyard Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

#book review #bookish #the scarlet alchemist

[oracleofmadness]

Okay, I could not put this down. I loved this exploration of an alternate version of the Tang Dynasty China and the whole atmosphere. But, what I loved even more was how relatable and yet ruthless the main character, Zilan, was.

The depictions in this book were so vivid that I felt like I was there. And, of course, the world-building was phenomenal. I honestly don't think I can say even one bad thing about this book. It was absolutely stunning.

Zilan comes from a poor family but has cousins that she considers her brother and sister. Each have their own talents, but zilan alone is so talented with Alchemy that she can raise the dead. During her Alchemy tests, she is only met with derision because of her status, but as it seems, nothing can hold her back.

I highly recommend this one!!

Out October 3, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

#book #bookish #books #bookworm #book review #currently reading #read #bookblogger #reading #fantasy #The Scarlet Alchemist #kylie lee baker

[ninasbookshelf]

hi all! i got the november 2023 YA fantasy fairyloot box a few days back and wanted to share with you. the theme of november's box is "alchemy of us" and the book this month is The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker. it's the first book in a series set in ancient China, and this fairyloot edition has the prettiest sprayed edges and gorgeous endpaper art (i'll share photos of these in an upcoming post). i'm super excited about this book! a few years ago i fell down a rabbit hole of fantasy novels set in ancient China, so The Scarlet Alchemist sounds right up my alley. additionally, in the author interview pages, Baker mentions that she takes inspiration from Full Metal Alchemist. i'm curious to see how that plays out. 

the november box came with a lot of fun goodies i haven't seen before from fairyloot, including a hanging pocket organizer which i laid flat for the photo above. (i struggle with these photos. i wanted to hang up the organizer and have all the items peeking out but it wasn't going how i imagined it so i did a floor layout instead. i did my best!! lol). there's an id card holder with a detachable lanyard and cell phone loop, so you can choose how/where/if you want to attach it. the id card holder is inspired by the Vampire Academy book series, which i haven't read, but i'm enjoying the theme of it anyway. 

additionally, there's a calendar based on Sarah J. Maas' books (the title on the box reads "The World of Sarah J. Maas Calendar"). i haven’t read Maas' series either so i’ll probably give the calendar to a friend, but it is a really fun calendar set. there’s a wood block with a notch in it, and then a card for each month of the year, with character art in the background. the cards have pretty foil lettering and edges, too. maybe i should finally give in and read acotar?

a few more things, of which we've previously seen iterations: this box came with the next two tarot cards to add to the ongoing tarot deck, and it came with the third installment of the hollow books series! the "advanced alchemy" book in the photo is actually a hollow book with a magnet closure. it can be used to tuck away items on a bookshelf: knickknacks, valuables, bookmarks, etc. there's also an author letter and spoiler card, both with artwork on the opposite side, and a bookmark version of the spoiler card art. 

and that's everything for this box! thanks so much for reading. as a heads up, i put my fairyloot subscription on pause for a month, so i will not have a post about december's box for you all. i'm taking a month to determine whether i want to continue my subscription or not. as much as i love receiving these boxes, i've been in a very specific reading mood over the past few months and am not at all caught up on the fairyloot books i've received, so it might not make sense to continue ordering them. gotta make sure i'm spending my money wisely etc. i'll post an update in january on whether i decide to continue my subscription.

hope you're doing well. ✨

#booklr #fairyloot spoilers #bibliophile #books and literature #kylie lee baker #the scarlet alchemist #fma #ya fantasy #books #november 2023

[justbunnyisokay]

Look at how pretty this book is.

Finished in like 2 nights it was pretty good, I found it a bit rushed though especially the romance bit, I'm not one for the romance atleast i don't really care about jt being a big plot point but it just felt too fast and forced so bleh.

#books #new book #book #booklr #the scarlet alchemist #fairyloot #pretty edges #pretty books

[elliepassmore]

The Scarlet Alchemist review

5/5 stars Recommended if you like: fantasy, alchemy magic, conspiracies, monsters

This was not a book that was on my radar but it came as part of a book box subscription and I'm so glad it did! The idea of jewels being altered alchemically to be something the rich can eat to live forever is so interesting and has such layered connotations to it.

The story opens with Zilan talking with a client about doing a resurrection. We get quite a bit of info on conducting resurrections since Zilan and her cousin's have made this their side business in order to help their family stay afloat. I liked the way the resurrections were described and thought the details of the magic were interesting. I also think seeing a resurrection first-thing helps set the stage for how magic works in this world.

Since magic is based in alchemy, it's drawn from stones and gems, each of which has a different power depending on its properties and elemental alignments. Zilan, being both a resurrectionist and someone who wants to sit for the civil exams, has to know a lot about the different stones. Once Zilan is in the imperial city, we get to see more alchemists and different uses of stones, and I really liked seeing the innovative things people came up with. I thought it was particularly clever the way Zilan would fashion rings out of gems, metals, and stones in order to have a quick source for magic. The imperial alchemists in particular are the cream of the crop and thus are both extremely talented and extremely creative in how they use their magic. I liked the camaraderie amongst the imperial alchemists and thought they brought a touch of light to an otherwise dangerous court.

Zilan is someone who wants to climb the social ladder in order to help her family. She's immensely loyal to her cousins, aunt, and uncle, who took her in after her father left and her mother died. Zilan is a talented alchemist and has figured out the secret to raising the dead after only ever being self-taught. Thanks to her success and renown she's able to enter the world of the court alchemists and have a chance to provide for her family the way they've provided for her. Yet at the same time she feels a sense of unworthiness, of being the child they had to take in due to familial duty, and that leaves her feeling as though she needs to work extra hard to prove she's worth it (of course her family doesn't actually think of her as a burden, but it's hard for her to overcome). Her insecurities about having been taken in, and having a foreign-born father do cause some internal problems for her, which at times translate to spats with her cousins. Regardless, it's clear she loves them deeply and would do anything to help them and ensure their safety.

Yufei is Zilan's cousin/adoptive sister and I absolutely loved her character. She's described as being a classically beautiful girl and their culture's 'perfect wife' material but should anyone say that to her face she'll square up and make them regret the 'compliment.' Yufei is definitely the fighter of their trio and is fiercely protective of Zilan and her brother. I also appreciated her mischievous side and seeing how she could be playful as well as the serious scholar and the fierce fighter.

Wenshu is Zilan's other cousin/adoptive brother and is the cautious one of their trio. He's soft spoken and worries over things like cleanliness and getting into trouble. That being said, I think he and Zilan have similar insecurities, though coming from opposite directions. Zilan worries she isn't loved enough because she's a burden and half-Chinese, Wenshu worries Zilan doesn't love them because she's capable of rising so high and 'leaving them behind.' This does cause some friction between the two of them, but Wenshu loves her and his sister and it's clear his worries simply get the best of him sometimes (that being said, I think he does get upset with Zilan about some things out of her control). At times he acts as a mitigating influence at times to Zilan's desires and Yufei's impulsivity, and he provides some humorous moments as well.

Li Hong is the crown prince who hears of Zilan's renown and asks her to resurrect him after his death. He's a sort of bumbly fellow who does his best but definitely grew up rich and secluded in the imperial palace. While he's faced hardships and loss, he also doesn't totally understand how other people live and the kinds of things that might offend them. But Li Hong is open to Zilan's admonishments and does his best to do better in the future. He's definitely a big softy, and I liked seeing that juxtaposed with Zilan's more hard pragmatism.

The plot was enjoyable, especially since I came into this with no spoilers and so truly got to guess where things were going to go. There were definitely some surprises and twists, and I liked seeing Zilan and her allies/friends work together to overcome the threats looming in the imperial palace. There were also some really interesting things going on plot-wise with immortality, resurrection, and the monsters.

Overall I enjoyed this book and am greatly looking forward to the sequel. All the main characters were likeable and still distinct from one another, and I look forward to reading more about them in book 2!

#book review #book #books #book recommendations #fantasy #bookstagram #bookblr #booklr #bookaholic #bookish #book addict #ya books #ya fantasy books #ya fantasy #fantasy novel #alchemy #asian authors #historical fantasy #the scarlet alchemist

[noveltyreads]

The Scarlet Alchemist (The Scarlet Alchemist #1) by Kylie Lee Baker Book Review

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED this book!

Literally from the first page I was hooked with the story, characters and historical and fantastical world building. From the first few pages I immediately knew The Scarlet Alchemist could become a new favourite book of mine. 

The Scarlet Alchemist follows Zilan, a girl who dreams of becoming a royal alchemist. Joining her cousins on their quest to become royal scholars, Zilan finds herself among the royal court uncovering political plots and schemes. When the Prince appears, knowing of Zilan's ability to resurrect the dead, she discovers things are not as they seem.

I absolutely loved the world-building in this book. Zilan's home town? The royal palace? I could imagine every place and I felt transported into the story. I loved seeing the home life and relations between Zilan and her cousins and their secret resurrection business. The resurrections brought another element to the book including a rock based alchemy system that I really enjoyed reading about. 

The characters made this book. Wenshu and Yufei's banter with Zilan made me laugh out loud. Each character has their distinct personality and there was never a dull moment with them. Two other characters I loved was the Prince and the duck, Durian. The entire scene at the pond with the ducks made me cackle out loud. 

The only criticism I have is with the side characters, the alchemists. They clearly were a big part of Zilan's life and yet we never learned more about them than their titles (the moon alchemist being an exception here). The ending would've hit harder if we got to know the alchemists a little better. 

Speaking of endings though, this book was plot twist after plot twist after plot twist. My mouth hung open wide at some points with the thought: "That did not just happen??" at the forefront. I cannot wait for book two, I desperately need to talk over this ending with someone!

ACTUAL RATING: 4.8 STARS 

#ya #books #young adult #bookstagram #romance #book reviews #fantasy #reading #bookstagrammer #book review #ya fantasy #dark fantasy #the scarlet alchemist #Kylie lee baker #fantasy books #ya romance #historical fantasy #historical fiction

[wondereads]

September Reading Wrap-Up

Reviews and thoughts under the cut

The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker (10/10)

This book was absolutely stunning. The characters were amazing, the plot constantly took me by surprise, and the writing is a great blend of readable modern language and the intense style that usually accompanies fantasy. The only critique I have is that I would consider this book more NA than YA considering how dark and viscerally gory it gets. Zilan is an amazing main character; she’s competent without being perfect, she’s ruthless and driven without being completely heartless. Her cousins, Yufei and Wenshu, are particularly interesting, especially concerning their relationship with Zilan and how complicated it is. The love interest is a good balance to Zilan, though I hope to see their relationship develop more. Empress Zetian is a chilling and horrifying villain who is truly a terrifying opponent. The plot was constantly twisting and turning, keeping me on my toes, and while I found some moments a little too fast paced, the overall quality of the story definitely makes me want to keep this at a full 10/10.

Read my full review here

I Was Reincarnated as the Villainess in an Otome Game but the Boys Love Me Anyway Volumes 1-4 by Sou Inaida (7/10)

I usually don't count manga/manhwa I read since I tend to breeze through them pretty quickly. However, I read and then reread these volumes in the span of like two days, so I figured I'd include them. As someone who's read a lot in this genre, this really caught my attention. These are purely self-indulgent reads. The plot isn't really there, it's mostly just (highly suspect) romance. I do like the main character; she's a lot more serious and focused than a lot of these sorts of protagonists, who tend to lean more towards schemingly evil or happy-go-lucky. She is still, of course, incredibly dense when it comes to love. I do have a favorite love interest (of which there is no shortage). While the romance is obviously the focus of the story, there actually seems to be some pretty interesting worldbuilding/plot things going on in the background, and I'm really interested to see where it leads. I think these books are for a very specific audience, but I thoroughly enjoyed them. (Also the title is misleading, the girls love her too lol)

Islands of Legends by Lisa McMann (7/10)

I really enjoy this series; I think the magic is a lot of fun and I really like the characters and how complex their relationships are, especially for middle grade. However, I had two major issues while reading this book. First was that the plot points in these books are starting to push the believability when it comes to a bunch of fourteen year olds running two separate countries. Especially when it’s established that there are adults with significantly more experience than them just kind of…hanging around. Second, these books are starting to fall into a pattern of deal with issue from last book, discover new island, new island presents a new problem, repeat. The ending looks like it’s shaking things up, but this one wasn’t as good as the last one.

Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang (8/10)

My favorite thing about this book was Sciona. She is so horrendously unlikable, and it makes her character arc all the more satisfying. It’s rare to find main characters who are actually bad people, especially women, and Sciona is a bad person. She’s selfish, she’s bigoted, and she’s callous; I certainly don’t like her, but I love her writing. The plot is interesting but has definitely been done before, and the magic system is unique but sort of convoluted. The worldbuilding isn’t fleshed out enough for the kind of ending Wang tried to do, though I do like the ending especially in terms of Sciona’s ending situation. This was a good book, but Babel by R. F. Kuang does the same thing but much better.

#books #wrap up #september reading #the scarlet alchemist #kylie lee baker #i’m the villainess but the capture targets are too abnormal #sou inaida #island of legends #the unwanteds #lisa mcmann #blood over bright haven #m l wang